Work under way for city sewer plant project

City officials, council members, engineers and contractors, including (from left) Councilman Tom Williams, Mayor Mike Wright, City Clerk Tonya Willim, City Administrator Ron Brohammer, project engineer Mike Milius and city employee Dale Shipp were part of the city’s groundbreaking ceremony to begin work on its $10.8 million sewer treatment expansion project. Behind them is the current treatment plant that will be connected to the expansion. Below, crews truly break ground by building roadways. The sewer project completion date is April 2015. (Photos by JoEllen Black/Richmond News)

By JoEllen Black/Richmond News

A hot dusty construction site was a beautiful scene for those who endured years of research, two bond elections, discussions and planning Wednesday. City officials, council members, engineers and contractors clutched their hands around golden shovels in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the city’s $10.8 million south wastewater treatment plant project.

“It sure seemed like this wasn’t going to happen,” said councilman Tom Williams, recollecting when talks of sewer upgrades began in 2006. “But all those sewer tours paid off,” he said with a laugh, referring to council member trips to area towns to observe sewer treatment operations.

“Thanks for sticking with it,” Brad Hogan, Community Bank of Missouri senior vice president, told Williams, one of the community members who attended the event.